[J-Jazz] Indigo Jam Unit
 

Indigo Jam Unit has got to be one of my favourite Japanese Jazz bands in the scene. I think they used to be a 3 piece band (piano, double bass, drums) but recently added a 4th member for an additional layer of percussion. I'm not quite sure how to describe their sound. It's kinda dark, dramatic, melodious with circular bass lines and an almost hip-hop impulse to their rhythm. If you like the explosive SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS sound but can't stand the blaring saxophone and the trumpet, you might prefer Indigo Jam's brand of rhythmic nu-jazz.

Indigo Jam Unit - Pirates

Indigo Jam Unit - Time

Pirates and Time is taken off their newest (and best, imo) album - "PIRATES". I started listening to IJU sometime during their 2nd album and I must say their newest effort is a very refined effort at developing the IJU sound. I think the track Pirates is a nice summary of the traditional IJU sound, while Time shows off their new sound of classy jazz intertwined with Afro-cuban beats. Exemplary work. Even if you don't sample all the other albums, this one is a must listen.

Pirates. Grab it here. :)

Indigo Jam Unit & flexlife - Love love love

IJU also released a covers album in January 2009 which opens with "Love love love", originally by Donny Hathaway (so says youtube). This song is all soft and bluesy, a departure from their signature sound, but it shows that their musical range is not limited to hard hitting chords and heavy basslines.

Indigo Jam Unit - Adrenaline

Adrenaline is taken off their 3rd album.

They've released 4 albums so far:
demonstration
2x2
ReaLism
Pirates

And also the above-mentioned cover album.

If you're interested, more download links can be found here.

Enjoy!

Indigo Jam Unit Official Homepage

I thought that's what J.A.M was for. :P

Lol I completely forgot about JAM. Yes JAM is essentially brassless SAPS. They're okay.
But IJU's sound is different... and better :)

I've been listening to covers album Vintage Black so much lately. Maybe they should have found more obscure songs, but I guess they're classics for a reason, the kind that can be replayed over and over without wearing out. I can't imagine the day when I wouldn't want to listen to The Makings of You or Lady Day and John Coltrane.

I like what Flexlife bring a lot, sweet sounding acoustic guitar and Rie Aoqi's vocals; once you get past that she's obviously singing in a foreign language, you wouldn't want to replace with anyone else for these particular performances. Love Love Love is practically perfect but then the album really hits its peak with I Believe in Miracles (video below), which is just too groovy.

I suffer from a benign affliction where My Cherie Amour plays in my head about 2% of the time (it's OK, fortunately I like the tune) so after a couple of listens when I thought that cover was the weakest on the album, I quite like the way swung the song, made it more bittersweet sounding, and how it works with the lyrics.

Anyway, here's a good review.

Indigo Jam Unit & Flexlife: I Believe in Miracles

Not from the album, but here's another vocal cover, this time of the Earth Wind and Fire song that from 2:00 progressively provides an introduction to a harder driving IJU sound. I need to listen to Pirates again.

Toki Asako - September (Indigo Jam Unit Remix)